Open-World Games Where You Make Your Own Goals

Gamers generally fall into two groups: those who enjoy clear direction and a focused storyline, and those who prefer complete freedom to explore and create their own experiences. Both preferences are perfectly valid, and the best approach often depends on the type of game. A well-defined story can be very satisfying, but sometimes it’s more enjoyable to have full control over how you play and what you do.

If you enjoy making your own goals in open-world games, I’ve got some suggestions for you. These games have great worlds to explore, but they don’t force you to follow a strict storyline or fulfill long-term obligations. While they offer quests and tasks, you can usually ignore them or finish them quickly and then focus on simply enjoying the freedom to do what you want.

Palworld

Missions Are Plentiful, But Your Goals Are More Important

If you enjoy collecting creatures like in Pokemon, and also like building and crafting in open-world games, then Palworld is definitely worth checking out. It’s currently in early access, but offers a large, open world filled with diverse creatures. Many creatures live in specific areas, so exploring widely and capturing those with helpful abilities is a great way to automate tasks at your base.

The game offers a wide range of activities, including mining, farming, and cooking, all of which help you improve your gear and move forward. While there are plenty of quests, the game doesn’t really end – it encourages you to build a life and find your own way to succeed in the world with your Pals. You’re free to tackle these activities in any order, and it’s up to you to decide when to capture Pals and challenge the next boss.

Project Zomboid

The Only Certainty Is That You’ll Die One Day

Project Zomboid offers a tutorial to get you started, but after that, you’re largely left to learn on your own in its huge open world. This is how the game is meant to be played, but you can customize the difficulty to create a more relaxed experience focused on building and farming, or a challenging, hardcore zombie survival game.

The game revolves around your story of survival and how you ultimately met your end. You have complete freedom to play however you want – whether that means creating a self-sufficient life with running electricity and water, peacefully raising animals in a zombie-free haven, or building an impenetrable fortress and making a last stand against overwhelming odds. There are no set missions or goals; you decide what kind of experience you want to have.

Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord

After The Main Story, There’s No Set Path

Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord is unique in this list because it offers more initial guidance, even though it’s largely a freeform medieval world. While there’s a main story you can follow and complete however you like, the game doesn’t really force any specific long-term goals on you after that.

Are you looking to build a vast empire, create a few thriving settlements, or perhaps roam the land with a group of followers, exploring and acting as you please? All of these are great ways to play, and the choice is yours.

RimWorld

Go For One Of The Endings, Or Don’t

RimWorld is a game where finishing it isn’t the main goal. The simulation aspects are so engaging and addictive that you’ll likely get lost in building and managing your colony. You begin with a small group on a randomly generated planet, and the story that unfolds is entirely up to you.

You can choose to build a thriving colony and achieve one of the game’s successful outcomes, or embrace chaos and lead a group of survivors down a dark path – including morally questionable acts like cannibalism and slavery. The game is very open-ended, letting you decide how to play with complete freedom, and it doesn’t offer much guidance or force you in any particular direction.

Factorio

Build What You Like

If you enjoy games where you build and automate things, you’ve probably heard of Factorio. It’s a delightful indie game where you construct factories on another planet, and ultimately, you can even try to launch a rocket. But reaching for the stars is up to you – the game doesn’t force you to do it, it simply provides the option.

You start the game in a dangerous, unfamiliar world, and from there, you’re free to do whatever you want. Most players focus on expanding their factory, but ultimately, you can build anything you imagine, in any way you like.

Kenshi

It’s Your Story, Not Kenshi’s

Kenshi is famous for being tough for beginners, but after you learn the ropes, it becomes a remarkably deep and satisfying sandbox game. It blends survival, role-playing, and an open world, giving you complete freedom to create your own story.

Here’s what you need to know: Kenshi doesn’t guide you or tell you what to do. Forget about being a chosen one – you’re just another person trying to survive in a harsh world, and the game makes sure you feel that by constantly throwing enemies your way.

No Man’s Sky

The Universe Prefers You To Do What You Wish

While No Man’s Sky does give you a little help at the beginning, it’s really up to you to decide what you want to achieve in this sci-fi adventure. There isn’t one set goal – you create your own!

The game gives you complete freedom to play how you want. There’s nothing stopping you from achieving your goals, though limited resources might present challenges. You can choose to establish a home on your starting planet, or explore the galaxy in search of a better place. The game won’t guide you or force you down any specific path – it’s all up to you.

Minecraft

A Game That Just Drops You In

What makes Minecraft unique is that it simply puts you in a world and lets you figure things out for yourself. There are no set missions or objectives – just a vast, ever-changing landscape filled with materials, creatures, and buildings to discover. That’s why every player’s experience with the game feels so personal and different.

People spend countless hours playing modded Minecraft, building complex redstone contraptions, or simply creating amazing structures in creative mode. But that’s only the beginning! There are also adventure maps, player-versus-player games, and entire servers to explore. It’s a whole world built and controlled by the players themselves.

The Sims 3

There’s No Right Or Wrong Simmer

While showing its age, The Sims 3 remains a classic title in the series. What really set it apart was its fully open world for each neighborhood, which made the game feel vibrant, even though it sometimes struggled with performance. It perfectly captures the heart of The Sims experience: creating unique characters and letting them live out their lives in a customizable world you design.

There’s a huge amount to do, and mods add even more options. While unexpected challenges and events will happen, you’ll mostly be free to create your own journey and decide what you want to achieve.

2026-01-12 20:11